9 Mile Legacy Brewing is a diamond in the rough

Recently I visited family in Saskatoon for a not so happy occasion.  While there I had the good fortune of visiting 9 Mile Legacy Brewing on a sunny Saturday afternoon after the recommendation of Mike from Mike’s Craft Beer and Pacific Beer Chat.

The brewery is nestled between a Chinese restaurant and a bike shop on 20th Street West, a scant two blocks from the Midtown Mall in downtown Saskatoon.  The converted pawn shop now houses a 5 barrel brewhouse as well as a decently-sized tasting lounge with a small kitchen.

The old shop’s display windows are converted into seating areas, one with an old upright piano for those nights where live music is heard.

The tap list at 9 Mile Legacy is always changing – much as you’d expect for a smaller, start-up brewery.  When I went in there were a range of styles available, and a few that were far more adventurous than even some places I’ve recently visited in Vancouver.  I quickly drained my flight of four that included a delicious white IPA and a rather tasty English mild before moving on to their Backroads Nitro Coffee Porter.

The brewery itself is on the small side and is tucked away in a low-ceilinged back room up a long ramp.  In spite of the cramped quarters, there are plenty of fermentation vessels about, as well as a small pilot system, some home brewing equipment, and oak barrels aging 9 Mile Legacy’s anniversary beer – a Bière de garde.

The non-barrel-aged version of the anniversary beer was available to take home in bottles so I grabbed some to share with the family at supper.  There were impressed nods from beer lovers and beer skeptics alike while I played selfish and drained three bottles to myself.  I was impressed by the robustness of the malt character in the beer as this is something often lacking in beers of this style that I’ve tried lately.

With numerous beers on tap, knowledgeable staff, and a welcoming space, 9 Mile Legacy Brewing looks at home in any up-and-coming neighbourhood in a beer-loving town.  So for this gem to be thriving in Saskatoon, where typical beer offerings are often limited to varieties of Molson or Budweiser, shows that the brewery has indeed tapped into something that is needed and sought after by locals in Saskatoon.

When you’re next in Saskatoon – and let’s face it you really should go visit this prairie oasis – stop in for a pint or two at 9 Mile Legacy brewing.  Any fan of beer will relish the opportunity to enjoy the quality and flavour from this up-and-coming brewery.